Certified Humane App Now Available

Shoppers can find out where the nearest supermarket is that carries Certified Humane products, discover what Certified Humane products are sold at a particular store, and get directions to the store, with the free Certified Humane App, available for iPhone and Android.

“With over 7,000 supermarkets across the country selling products that are Certified Humane, consumers should be able to find products wherever they are,” said Adele Douglass, founder and CEO of Herndon, Va.-based Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC), a nonprofit certification organization dedicated to bettering the lives of farm animals in food production. “This tool connects consumers and businesses by providing consumers with what they have been asking us for, ‘at- their- fingertips access,’ and rewards retailers who carry Certified Humane products with more business.”

The app employs GPS to identify nearby retailers, and displays them in an interactive map; users can also search for specific locations. As well as finding mainstream supermarkets that sell Certified Humane products, users can avail themselves of the “BUY ONLINE” button to track down farmers and ranchers who sell directly to consumers. Additionally, restaurants and other foodservice providers that wish to sell Certified Humane products can use a filter option to find wholesale distributors.

The Certified Humane designation assures consumers that the meat, poultry, egg or dairy products they buy have been produced in accordance with HFAC’s standards for humane farm animal treatment. Animals must receive a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones, and must be raised with shelter, resting areas and space sufficient to support natural behavior. Since the program began in May 2003, more than 90 companies, representing hundreds of farms and millions of farm animals, have received certification.